It was a scene right out of the movies. A former major league right-hander spends the spring and early summer throwing batting practice to his son's team before he returns to the bigs with six shutout innings.

That's exactly what Paul Byrd did yesterday in Boston.

Byrd, making his first major league start since last September, held the Blue Jays to three hits and the Boston Red Sox completed a three-game sweep with a 7-0 victory over Roy Halladay and the Toronto Blue Jays.

"I'm throwing to a 13-and-under team and the Red Sox called and I say, 'I don't know how long I'll take to get ready,' " said Byrd, still clutching the game ball and wearing the youth league hat in an interview room after the game.

"I'm just so excited to be back. I want a World Series ring," he said. "Hopefully I can help this team get there. I'll clean toilets if I have to, and I told them that."

Byrd (1-0), out of baseball after finishing last year with the Red Sox, signed a minor league contract on Aug. 5. He struck out one and walked three.

"I think he missed competing," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "He's with a team fighting for their playoff life, so he gets to be a part of that, which I think he enjoys."

Boston moved 3 1/2 games ahead of Texas in the AL's wild-card race after the Rangers lost to Minnesota.

TWINS 5, RANGERS 3:

Pinch-runner Carlos Gomez scored the go-ahead run as the Twins scored three times in the eighth inning to beat the visiting Rangers. The rally allowed Minnesota reliever Jon Rauch (1-0) to pick up the victory in his first appearance for the Twins after being acquired from Arizona on Friday.

YANKEES 8, WHITE SOX 3:

Mark Teixeira homered and drove in four runs, Johnny Damon also went deep and the host Yankees polished off a three-game sweep of the White Sox. Derek Jeter scored three times for the AL East leaders, who boosted baseball's best record to 82-48.

ORIOLES 5, INDIANS 2:

Brian Matusz pitched seven innings of four-hit ball, Felix Pie homered, and the Orioles beat the visiting Indians for a split of the four-game series. Making his sixth major league start, Matusz (3-2) allowed one run had a career-high eight strikeouts.

TIGERS 4, RAYS 3:

Placido Polanco hit a three-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning, lifting the host Tigers to a win over the Rays. Third baseman Brandon Inge sealed the victory, leaping to snag B.J. Upton's high hopper down the line with a runner on first and throwing across the diamond for the final out.

ANGELS 9, ATHLETICS 1:

John Lackey pitched eight innings of five-hit ball for his 100th victory, Torii Hunter and Kendry Morales hit three-run homers, and the host Angels salvaged a split of their series with the last-place Athletics.

ROYALS 3, MARINERS 0:

Zack Greinke pitched a one-hitter, allowing only a second-inning single by Kenji Johjima, and the visiting Royals beat the Mariners. Greinke (13-8) retired the final 22 batters after Johjima's two-out single up the middle. He walked one and struck five.